BSJ2
Well-Known Member
what style of boat did you choose for your liveaboard and why? price?size?sail?power?if power why?if given your time over would you buy same type of vessel or something different?
what boat did you choose
- Thread starter BSJ2
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Talbot
Well-Known Member
I am not permanent liveabord (yet!), but no question, would be a cat for space, ventialtion, ride at anchor, view out of cabins/saloon etc.
D
Deleted member 478
Guest
I bought a monohull. Have now bought a catamaran and the monohull is for sale.
A
Anonymous
Guest
You could write a book to answer your questions but I chose a heavy monohull. Several cat owners who we over-wintered with last year said that on balance they wish they'd gone for a monohull. Never having experienced a cat, I don't have a personal opinion except that before buying a cat I would want to have use of one for at least a week before going down that route.
Otherwise, for liveaboard, you need a nice heavy boat - not the light vacation boats which are fine for what they are but not for living aboard. I have a Nauticat but things like HR, Nijad, Contest, are worth considering.
Make sure that your power system is adequate and go for an inboard diesel generator. We find our watermaker absolutely brilliant in the Med - for us it is a 'must have'. Far more important than better plotters, nav gear, radars, etc.!
Otherwise, for liveaboard, you need a nice heavy boat - not the light vacation boats which are fine for what they are but not for living aboard. I have a Nauticat but things like HR, Nijad, Contest, are worth considering.
Make sure that your power system is adequate and go for an inboard diesel generator. We find our watermaker absolutely brilliant in the Med - for us it is a 'must have'. Far more important than better plotters, nav gear, radars, etc.!
Conachair
Guest
I went for steel 33' mono and don't regret it. Very much depends on style of cruising and what creature comforts you are after, my boat has few complex systems to go wrong, seawater pump at sink for dishwashing, lots of things like that to remain more self-suffient, oil lamps etc. 33 just about right for me single handing, heavier build means be less bouncy at sea, though a handful alone in a marina. But you could ask 10 people and get 11 different answers!
good luck
Padz - Conachair
good luck
Padz - Conachair
D
Deleted member 478
Guest
[ QUOTE ]
Several cat owners who we over-wintered with last year said that on balance they wish they'd gone for a monohull.
[/ QUOTE ]I've not come across one cat owner that has said that. Were you bullying them?
On the other hand (and including myself) I have come across numerous monohull cruisers that have said they'd prefer a cat for the living space and stability.
Several cat owners who we over-wintered with last year said that on balance they wish they'd gone for a monohull.
[/ QUOTE ]I've not come across one cat owner that has said that. Were you bullying them?
On the other hand (and including myself) I have come across numerous monohull cruisers that have said they'd prefer a cat for the living space and stability.
TigaWave
Well-Known Member
Bavaria 390, great solid boat, good sea berths, largest shower heads of any sail boat I've been on, great ventilation for hot climates, good heating for UK winter. Easily handled by 1 or 2. High quality of fittings.
Big rig good in light airs and safe for winter crossing of Biscay.
11.5m x 3.9m wide, 1991 £72K fully kitted for ocean cruising and coded.
Yes I'd buy one again.
I have sailed/cruised Uk, France, Med and Carib on Rival's/Twisters/Crusaders/old wooden gaff rigged boats/half tonners/IOR boats/open 30/Sweden 38/one off cruisers/Moody's/Fast 40/GK's and a few others I can't remember the name of right now...so I have something to compare it to.
But it's still down to the individual and the way you like to live/travel.
Big rig good in light airs and safe for winter crossing of Biscay.
11.5m x 3.9m wide, 1991 £72K fully kitted for ocean cruising and coded.
Yes I'd buy one again.
I have sailed/cruised Uk, France, Med and Carib on Rival's/Twisters/Crusaders/old wooden gaff rigged boats/half tonners/IOR boats/open 30/Sweden 38/one off cruisers/Moody's/Fast 40/GK's and a few others I can't remember the name of right now...so I have something to compare it to.
But it's still down to the individual and the way you like to live/travel.
moodycruiser
Well-Known Member
First liveaboard was a cat, now onboard a mono.
Kilter
Well-Known Member
Tradewind 33, wanted a boat that would look after us and she did, strong as the proverbial brick outhouse!
heerenleed
Well-Known Member
Heavy monohull (Nicholson 48)
We chose this boat because our former boat was a Nicholson 35, and we knew her construction.
So instead of having to discover how our new boat is constructed (you need to know for repairs and maintenance) we preferred to buy a Nicholson again. And they sail very well. The ketch rig is relatively easy to handle between the two of us.
Ample storage and a very sheltered center cockpit are a bonus and the internal layout appealed, but is, of course, very much a personal matter.
The high quality of the boat also is an asset.
cheers
We chose this boat because our former boat was a Nicholson 35, and we knew her construction.
So instead of having to discover how our new boat is constructed (you need to know for repairs and maintenance) we preferred to buy a Nicholson again. And they sail very well. The ketch rig is relatively easy to handle between the two of us.
Ample storage and a very sheltered center cockpit are a bonus and the internal layout appealed, but is, of course, very much a personal matter.
The high quality of the boat also is an asset.
cheers
snowleopard
Well-Known Member
A fair rule of thumb would be a cat for latitudes <40° and a big heavy mono for high latitudes. Mine is great in the tropics but I wouldn't take it round the Horn or up to Spitzbergen.
AndrewB
Well-Known Member
Steel 38' monohull.
Advantages: Price, strength, comfort at sea, security.
Disadvantages: Speed, accomodation, maintenance.
Horses for courses. My choice is for long range cruising, expecting to cope with all sorts of weather at sea, anchoring more often than not, sometimes taking chances with the reefs. When I'm old I'll get a cat for gentle Meddy cruising spending most of the time in fully serviced marinas.
Advantages: Price, strength, comfort at sea, security.
Disadvantages: Speed, accomodation, maintenance.
Horses for courses. My choice is for long range cruising, expecting to cope with all sorts of weather at sea, anchoring more often than not, sometimes taking chances with the reefs. When I'm old I'll get a cat for gentle Meddy cruising spending most of the time in fully serviced marinas.
Ships_Cat
Well-Known Member
And perhaps <30 degrees in the Southern Hemisphere?
John
John
BSJ2
Well-Known Member
its interesting that a manufacturer has not gone out with the intention of capturing the market, as a general rule there seems to be two distinct camps, cats + heavy mono hulls, i would also think that many are of a similar LOA. therefore wouuld appear not that difficult to get a list of must have kit on baord and make the definitive liveaboard. sounds easy if you say it quickly?!
Ariadne
Well-Known Member
Heavy monohull (Gitana 43), bermudan sloop, masthead rigged, 7 foot draught (ouch!!!!) but 6'6" head height throught the accomadation (important when your over 6'). Deep safe cockpit and a low profile topsides.
Mind you we wanted a CAT but couldn't find 1 at the right price at the time.
Mind you we wanted a CAT but couldn't find 1 at the right price at the time.
pragmatist
Well-Known Member
Well that's OK then - we're agreed - yours for the Carib and ours for Greenland ! And in this heat our plans just changed - Greenland rather than the Med !
mocruising
Well-Known Member
Hallberg Rassy heavy boat, safe, strong, reasonable performance, good track record, many (Of the type we purchased) manufactured so they had a chance to iron out any problems. Appear to hold their value as well as any other manufacturer and yes its easy to get spares, very important if you have ever owned a boat that is no longer manufactured or the builder has gone out of business.
Swagman
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
its interesting that a manufacturer has not gone out with the intention of capturing the market, as a general rule there seems to be two distinct camps, cats + heavy mono hulls, i would also think that many are of a similar LOA. therefore wouuld appear not that difficult to get a list of must have kit on baord and make the definitive liveaboard. sounds easy if you say it quickly?!
[/ QUOTE ]
I think some manuafacturers (Halberg Rassy / Moody / Oyster etc for monos) have attempted to capture the cruiser market with heavier boats.
But if you were to take responses to a yachting web site you may not get a truly representative view on what most people actually end up going cruising on.
I can see why from the responses to the question make you feel a majority go for cats or heavy boats - but one can see using a mark one eyeball that is not simply not the case.
Go visit any busy overseas 'cruiser' location and I'd venture the ratio of cats v heavy v lighter production monos is around 1 to 3 to something well over 20.............
JOHN
its interesting that a manufacturer has not gone out with the intention of capturing the market, as a general rule there seems to be two distinct camps, cats + heavy mono hulls, i would also think that many are of a similar LOA. therefore wouuld appear not that difficult to get a list of must have kit on baord and make the definitive liveaboard. sounds easy if you say it quickly?!
[/ QUOTE ]
I think some manuafacturers (Halberg Rassy / Moody / Oyster etc for monos) have attempted to capture the cruiser market with heavier boats.
But if you were to take responses to a yachting web site you may not get a truly representative view on what most people actually end up going cruising on.
I can see why from the responses to the question make you feel a majority go for cats or heavy boats - but one can see using a mark one eyeball that is not simply not the case.
Go visit any busy overseas 'cruiser' location and I'd venture the ratio of cats v heavy v lighter production monos is around 1 to 3 to something well over 20.............
JOHN
G
Guest
Guest
All depends where you look. Every area of the world has its bias. For example if marinas charge 2X for cats or have no CAT berths there are fewer of them.
In remote areas of the world the gathering of heavier boats is obvious. Even in England we noticed that MDL marinas have few ketches but were surrounded by them when we went up a river to some moorings.
As for "busy cruising areas" you will get a certain type of boat bias. Some of us would never go near the busy places.
In remote areas of the world the gathering of heavier boats is obvious. Even in England we noticed that MDL marinas have few ketches but were surrounded by them when we went up a river to some moorings.
As for "busy cruising areas" you will get a certain type of boat bias. Some of us would never go near the busy places.
TigaWave
Well-Known Member
Totally agree, many of the people I've met on long term cruises, have opted for the 1985-1995 production cruiser/racer. All were very happy with their choice. many had covered huge distances from as far as Magellan straights to Norway. Could it be cost that has a bigger effect than performance? it's interesting that no one has mentioned the cost of their pride and joy in this thread?
There are heaps of old Jeaneau's/Beneteau/Bav's doing the miles in a wide range of latitudes. Maybe they are actually sailing rather than sat working in front of a computer? as their boats cost less this may allow them to keep exploring whilst others have to re fill the coffers? Just a thought....
There are heaps of old Jeaneau's/Beneteau/Bav's doing the miles in a wide range of latitudes. Maybe they are actually sailing rather than sat working in front of a computer? as their boats cost less this may allow them to keep exploring whilst others have to re fill the coffers? Just a thought....